AKK 184
RECEIVED
184/6 A
2 5 JUN1980
DESK OFF INDEX
MY
GP5225 UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG 2105052 JUNE 8Ø
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 792 OF 21 JUNE
INFC PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HONG KONG LONDON AIR SERVICES.
FOLLOWING IS EXTRACT FROM MY SPEECH TO THE FEDERATION OF
HONG KONG INDUSTRIES ON FRIDAY 20 JUNE, WHICH WAS WIDELY REPORTED
IN THE PRESS THIS MORNING:
''BUT FIRST I MUST SAY HOW DELIGHTED I AM, HOW DELIGHTED HONG KONG IS, THAT OUR OWN AIRLINE HAS AT LAST BEEN LICENSED TO FLY TO LONDON. WE ALL REALISE THE DIFFICULTY OF THE SITUATION IN WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE WAS PLACED. WE SEE HIS
DECISION AS A BRAVE ONE FOR FAIR PPLAY, FREER COMPETITION, AND
CONSIDERATION FOR THE CONSUMBER. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ALWAYS
ASK FOR IN OUR COMMERCIAL DEALINGS WITH OTHERS AND WHAT WE ALWAYS GIVE OTHERS WHO DEAL WITH US. IT IS A HAPPY DAY IN WHICH WE SEE
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, ON WHICH WE DEPEND SO GREATLY, TAKING
A RESOLUTE STAND ON THESE PRINCIPLES, THESE PRINCIPLES INVOLVE
OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS BENEFITS. DECISIONS ON LICENCES TO LAND
IN HONG KONG LIE WITH THE HONG KONG AIR TRANSPORT LICENSING
AUTHORITY ALONE. IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT DIRECTION, AND THERE IS NO RIGHT OF APPEAL. BUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS
ENTITLED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THAT BODY, AND IN PRINCIPLE STANDS READY TO SUPPORT APPLICATIONS FOR ARRANGEMENTS
TO MATCH THOSE PROVIDED IN LONDON. IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE
COULD NOT DO LESS''.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
MAED
HKJGD
SPD
NAD FED
MISS BROWN
COPIES
то
LONDON
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR SWIFT, CAIR. DOT